TAKE ACTION: Get 500+ "Access is the Answer" Petition Signatures at Your Health Center

The deadline for EVERY HEALTH CENTER to collect 500 signatures on the "Access is the Answer" petition is March 31—just a few weeks away! The goal of the campaign is to show every policymaker that protecting and investing in Health Centers is a solution to many of the problems that still face America’s health care system. The Access is the Answer petition is just a first step in demonstrating the importance of Health Centers and the critical role they play in their communities across the country. If every Health Center meets the March collection goal of 500 signatures by the end of the month, advocates will have collected close to 600,000 signatures. Please sign the petition online, and then organize a petition drive at your Health Center if you haven't done so already.

Health Center Advocates Convening in DC Next Week

We're gearing up for the 2014 Policy & Issues Forum that the National Association of Community Health Centers is hosting March 19-23 in Washington, DC. A contingent of staff, board members, and patients from Michigan Health Centers, as well as MPCA staff, will be attending the conference to get the latest updates on what's happening at the federal level impacting Health Centers, and to meet with Congressional staff to discuss the unmet need for access to primary care in local communities and how Health Centers are the solution to meeting that need. MPCA will be sharing highlights of the happenings at P&I next week on our Facebook page and tweeting using the hashtag #NACHCpi. If you are from a Michigan Health Center and attending P&I, you will receive an email from MPCA on March 14 with Michigan-specific information. If you do not receive the email, please contact Dana Lawrence at dlawrence@mpca.net.

Although not required for this grant funding opportunity, MPCA is providing letters of support for the Bureau of Primary Health Care's Patient Centered Medical Home-Facility Improvements Grant Program to Michigan Health Centers that request them. If you wish to have a letter of support, please submit an email request with a copy of your project abstract to Neal Colburn at ncolburn@mpca.net and copy Andrea Charlton at acharlton@mpca.net. Please allow reasonable time for a response.

On April 8, 2014, Microsoft will cease to support its Windows XP operating system, meaning it will no longer receive security patches and other updates. Originally released to retail channels back in October 2001, Windows XP was the most widely used operating system until August 2012 when it was finally overtaken by Windows 7. Microsoft Office 2003, the productivity suite, will also cease receiving security patches and updates on April 8. In the health care world there is a difference of opinion as to what it all means for organizations that still have Windows XP installed. Some believe that its use will be an automatic HIPAA violation and could jeopardize meaningful use dollars, while others say that a thorough risk analysis is the key to ensure that Windows XP computers are adequately protected. Click here to read more. Please email Rob Pazdan, MPCA's Director of Information Systems, at rpazdan@mpca.net for more information.

MPCA Hosting EHR/EDR User Groups Quarterly Webinar

MPCA is hosting the EHR/EDR User Groups quarterly webinar on March 27 at 11 am-12 pm ET to describe the process a health care organization follows to be approved to share data with the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR) using HL7 messaging. Health Center IT, immunization, quality and improvement, and meaningful use staff, as well as office managers and other Health Center staff are encouraged to participate to learn about the benefits and lessons learned of sharing immunization data.

(WoodTV-8) As nearly 17,000 Cass and Berrien County residents become eligible for affordable health insurance or Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, Cassopolis Family Clinic Network (CFCN) is expanding to help meet the demand for primary care services. Read more

Health Center Opens in Niles

(Leader Publications) Residents in Calumet now have the option to see a doctor in their area thanks to a new health center. The Upper Great Lakes Family Health Centers continue their expansion into the Copper Country with opening of a brand-new facility at the Mine Street Station in Calumet. Read more

Expanding primary care medical services to all in the downriver area, Western Wayne Family Health Centers opens its third health center in Lincoln Park on Wednesday, March 5, 2014. Read more

Ingham County Hires Kalamazoo County Health Officer Linda Vail

(MLive) Vail explained that in addition to becoming Ingham County Health Officer, she will be in charge of seven community health centers that also serve as primary care clinics, something her current position doesn't offer. Read more

(MLive) The Community Health Improvement Plan partners present their findings and 12-month plan of action at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 13. Read more

Covenant Community Care Board Member Recognized as an "Everyday Hero Making A Difference"

(ClickonDetroitFamily Nestled over on the west side, just off of Tireman on Beechwood, is Helping Operations for People Empowerment or "HOPE." This non profit's CEO is Rev. Sam Spruill. The organization is the community outreach arm of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church and is located in the old Tabernacle Church building. It is involved in educational, social and community development programs. Read more

MPCA posts job openings at Michigan Health Center Program grantees, Michigan FQHC Look-Alikes, and MPCA active member organizations. To submit a job opening for posting in the online MPCA Career Center and in the MPCA eUpdate, email the job title, a brief overview, a bulleted list of qualifications, and instructions on how to apply to info@mpca.net with Job Posting in the subject field.

Michigan Exceeds Marketplace Enrollment Projections through February

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation released the latest Health Insurance Marketplace enrollment data, citing 4.2 million as the number of people who have selected a Marketplace health plan as of March 1. Included in the report are enrollee demographics, plan selection patterns, information on Marketplace financial assistance, and Medicaid/CHIP eligibility assessments. A total of 144,587 Michigan residents have selected a plan in the Marketplace, exceeding HHS projections for the state by nearly 16,000 enrollees. Click here for MPCA's analysis of the report, click here to read an MLive/Lansing article featuring MPCA's Director of Health Center Operations, Phillip Bergquist, and click here to read an article on the MPCA blog to learn how Michigan Health Centers are continuing to serve as sources of information and assistance.

Agreement Reached on FY14 Budget Supplemental

This week the Conference Committee that was appointed to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of the Fiscal Year 2014 supplemental appropriations bill passed a final bill out of committee, which was then approved by both houses. Read more

Senate Passes Medical Loan Repayment Legislation

This week the Michigan Senate unanimously passed a pair of bills that make changes to the Essential Health Provider program—known as the Michigan State Loan Repayment Program (MSLRP)—to help encourage health care professionals to practice in underserved areas of the state. Read more

MDCH Issues Physician Injectable Drug Coverage Policy

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) recently issued MSA bulletin 14-05 to clarify the policy for billing and reimbursement of physician-administered psychotropic injectable drugs in the outpatient setting that are carved out of Medicaid Health Plan (MHP) coverage. Read more

340B Recertification Deadline TODAY, March 14

The Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) has alerted MPCA that several Michigan Health Centers have not yet completed the 340B recertification process. Annual recertification of 340B program eligibility is a required condition of participation. Health Centers that do not recertify by TODAY, March 14, will be removed from the program. OPA has emailed authorizing officials at participating Health Centers the user names and passwords that will allow them to log into the 340B database and certify that the information on file for their sites is correct, and to decertify any sites that have closed or are otherwise no longer eligible or participating in the program. Click here for more information. Contact the 340B Prime Vendor Program at 1.888.340.2787 or apexusanswers@340bpvp.com with questions.

As we reported in last week's MPCA eUpdate, the Fiscal Year 2015 appropriations process is now underway. Next in the process is circulation of the bipartisan Health Center Funding Support Dear Colleague letters in both the House and Senate. Every year, Congressional champions of the Health Center program lead a letter to the Appropriations Committee in their respective chamber to publicly show support for the program. This year's Dear Colleague letters will begin circulating soon and will be posted on the National Association of Community Health Centers' Federal Affairs webpage, along with a running list of signers. Once the letters are in circulation, all advocates will be asked to reach out to their Members of Congress—either in-person at Hill visits during the Policy & Issues Forum next week, or via phone and email for those not attending P&I—to urge Members of Congress to sign in support of continued funding for the Health Center Program. Please stay tuned to NACHC's Health Centers on the Hill blog for appropriations updates as we move forward!

SAMHSA Issues Health Advisory: Heroin Contaminated with Fentanyl

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is alerting the treatment community and the general public about a marked increase in deaths since the beginning of the year that were reportedly linked to the use of heroin contaminated with the drug fentanyl. Click here to read more. SAMHSA released an Opioid Overdose Toolkit late last year, which contains information on recognizing and responding appropriately to overdose.

Application Deadline for NHSC Loan Repayment Program Extended Until March 24

The deadline for submitting applications for the 2014 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program application cycle has been extended to March 24 (at 7:30 pm ET). The NHSC provides loan repayment assistance to licensed primary care medical, dental, and mental and behavioral health providers who serve in communities with limited access to health care. Click here for information about the NHSC Loan Repayment Program, as well as an application checklist, eligibility requirements, and list of NHSC-approved sites.

Each year the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) honors outstanding men and women of the Health Center movement with Community Health Care Awards of Excellence. This year's awards, which span the spectrum of Health Center service, will be presented during the Community Health Institute, August 22-26, 2014, in San Diego, California. Award nominations of board members, clinicians, administrators, and public officials whose accomplishments best exemplify excellence in community health care and contribution to the Health Center mission, are being accepted through Friday, April 25.

The MPCA eUpdate is a weekly e-newsletter intended to keep Michigan Health Centers, MPCA members, partners, and friends updated on the latest happenings impacting Health Centers and providing care to the underserved. Please feel free to forward this to interested individuals, or they may request to be added to the distribution list by subscribing at www.mpca.net.

Information from outside organizations does not represent an endorsement by MPCA, and opinions expressed by outside authors are not necessarily official positions or policies of MPCA.

Michigan Primary Care Association’s (MPCA) federal grant program titled "State and Regional Primary Care Associations” allows MPCA to provide technical assistance and support to Health Centers in Michigan and is 100 percent funded by federal dollars at a current annual level of $1,069,988.00.